Fri Aug 1,
By The Canadian Press
"Aboriginal women experience higher rates of violence. If that burden is going to be lifted, the socioeconomic conditions and prosperity gap between aboriginals and non-aboriginals will have to be addressed," said Anita Neville in a release.
She spoke as the National Aboriginal Women's
"In order to make aboriginal women's lives safe and secure, the Conservative government must implement measures to address its root causes, such as poverty," said Neville.
Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl said the government has taken some specific measures to improve the lives of aboriginal women, including passing legislation to include First Nations women living on reserves under the Human Rights Acts, introducing legislation to protect women and children with regards to matrimony and property rights and extending funding for aboriginal women's shelters for five years.
"All of these measures and others are part of what we're doing to help First Nations women deal with some of the issues that face them," he said Friday in an interview.
"There's always more to be done...and we're negotiating other deals as well, but making good progress really on several fronts."
Before the summit, Beverley Jacobs, president of the Native Women's Association of Canada, said the delegates would look at more than 140 recommendations on a wide range of issues - such as poverty, violence and justice - that came out of last year's inaugural meeting in Cornerbrook, N.L.
Jacobs said she and other women are waiting to see whether the federal government's apology for the impact of the residential school system was sincere.
After the summit, Neville agreed.
"On the heels of the residential schools apology, the Conservative government must commit to work with First Nations, Metis and Inuit women to end violence and achieve equality for all," she said.
Jacobs also said she hoped the summit would provide a platform to gain the federal government's attention on issues.
Neville said that earlier this month the Liberals joined with the Native women's association to ask the federal government to host a First Ministers Meeting to discuss aboriginal issues and the renewal of the 2005 Kelowna Accord.
"There was enthusiasm and hope among aboriginal women's groups when the Kelowna Accord agreement was reached because they were involved in the process, and it was the first time that they had a seat at the table," said Neville.